Psalm 134 is the final Psalm of the "Songs of Ascents". Verse 1-2:
1 BEHOLD, BLESS (affectionately and gratefully praise) the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, [singers] who by night stand in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in holiness and to the sanctuary and bless the LORD [affectionately and gratefully praise Him]!
The "servants of the LORD" were the temple priests and Levites who were on duty at night. David had arranged that there would be praise given to God day and night (Psalm 92:1-2; 1 Chronicles 9:33, 1 Chronicles 23:30)! When we are sleeping here, people on the other side of the world are praising Him! His praise is CONTINUALLY pouring forth! Now the people who had gone up to the Temple for the Feasts were ready to return to their homes.Verse 3 is the blessing that the priest on duty would speak over the people as they left.
3 The LORD bless you out of Zion, even He Who made heaven and earth.
The Psalms coming up will emphasize praising the LORD! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "I Bless Your Lord":
John 11 covers the raising of Lazarus from the dead. I found some more information on this from the Bible perspective in the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Day 1 - The messenger comes to Jesus (Lazarus dies).
Day 2 - The messenger returns to Bethany.
Day 3 - Jesus waits another day, then departs.
Day 4 - Jesus arrives in Bethany.
When the messenger arrived back home, he would find Lazarus already dead. What would his message convey to the grieving sisters now that their brother was already dead and buried? Jesus was urging them to believe His word no matter how discouraging the circumstances might appear.
Our Lord's message to the sisters did not say that their brother would not die. It promised only that death would not be the ultimate result, for the ultimate result would be the glory of God. (Note that once again, Jesus called Himself "the Son of God.") He wanted them to lay hold of this promise; in fact, He reminded Martha of this message when she balked at having the tomb opened (John 11:40).
When we find ourselves confronted by disease, disappointment delay, and even death, our only encouragement is the Word of God. We must live by faith and not by sight. Their situation seemed hopeless, yet the sisters knew that Jesus was the Master of every situation. The promise in Ps 50:15 finds a parallel here: "And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me."
What was the end result of what Jesus did here? Verses 43-45:
43 When He had said this, he shouted with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out! 44And out walked the man who had been dead, his hands and feet wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] napkin around his face. Jesus said to them, free him of the burial wrappings and let him go. 45 Upon seeing what Jesus had done, many of the Jews who had come with Mary believed in Him. [They trusted in Him and adhered to Him and relied on Him.]
God's Word is Truth (John 17:17), and He is true TO His Word to make it come to pass (Jeremiah 1:12 AMP)! His Word will return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11), but will accomplish what it says at the right time (Galatians 6:9 AMP)! Never give up, never give in, and be willing to pay the price to KNOW Him! VICTORY!!!
Ezekiel 36-37 are all about the Restoration of Israel! Ezekiel 36:10-11:
10 And I will multiply men upon you, the whole house of Israel, even all of it; the cities shall be inhabited and the waste places shall be rebuilt, 11 And I will multiply upon you man and beast, and they shall increase and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited according to your former estate and I will do better for you than at your beginnings; and you shall know, understand, and realize that I am the LORD [the Sovereign Ruler, Who calls forth loyalty and obedient service].
The Lord Himself has brought His people back to the land that HE gave to them! Israel is flourishing in every area except for world opinion! That is nothing new to them! Ezekiel 37 speaks of things that have happened (the people being brought back to the land) and things yet to happen at the second coming of Messiah Jesus to the land! There will come a time when Israel stands alone against the world with the one, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible as their only "Friend"! Then they will stand and see the Salvation of their God! I believe that the Bible teaches that the true Church of Jesus of Nazareth will be in heaven at that time, and that we will return WITH HIM to the land of Israel! Soon and very soon!
Shalom in Him!
